Biographies

Ms. Stacey S.Rauch is a Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. Ms. Rauch is a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company from which she retired in September 2010. Ms. Rauch was a leader in McKinsey’s Retail and Consumer Goods Practices, served as the head of the North American Retail and Apparel Practice, and acted as the Global Retail Practice Convener. A 24 year veteran of McKinsey, Ms. Rauch led engagements for a wide range of retailers, apparel wholesalers, and consumer goods manufacturers. Her areas of expertise include strategy, organization, marketing, merchandising, multi-channel management, global expansion, and retail store operations. Ms. Rauch was a co-founder of McKinsey’s New Jersey office, and was the first woman at McKinsey appointed as an industry practice leader. Ms. Rauch is also a non-executive director of Ann, Inc., a women’s specialty apparel retailer, where she sits on its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Land Securities Group PLC, the UK’s largest commercial property company, where she sits on its Audit Committee, and Corporate Executive Board (CEB), a leading member-based advisory company, where she sits on the Audit Committee. Previously, Ms. Rauch served on the board of directors of Tops Holding Corporation, the parent company of Tops Markets LLC, a US grocery retailer. Prior to joining McKinsey, Ms. Rauch spent five years in product management for the General Foods Corporation.

Mr. Richard C. Stockinger is President, Chief Executive Officer, Director of the Company. He has been Chief Executive Officer and President of Fiesta Restaurant Group since February 2017. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Benihana, Inc. (“Benihana”) from 2009 until 2014, as a member of the Board of Directors of Benihana from 2008 until 2014, as a member of the Audit Committee of Benihana from 2008 until 2009, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Benihana from 2010 until 2012. Prior to joining Benihana, Mr. Stockinger spent more than two decades at The Patina Restaurant Group, LLC and its predecessor Restaurant Associates, Inc. during which time he served in various senior executive capacities, including as President from 2003 until 2008 and as a director from 1998 until 2006. Most recently, Mr. Stockinger had served as a consultant to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., a private equity firm, from 2014 until 2017, and Not Your Average Joes, a private restaurant company of which Mr. Stockinger is also a member of its board of directors.

Mr. Danny K. Meisenheimer is a Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of the Company. He served as the Company's Interim Chief Executive Officer and President from September 30, 2016 until February 28, 2017 and served as Chief Operating Officer of Pollo Tropical from 2013 until 2017. Mr. Meisenheimer, also served as Pollo Tropical’s Interim Chief Operating Officer from 2012 until 2013. In 2012, Mr. Meisenheimer served as Pollo Tropical’s Chief Brand Officer. Mr. Meisenheimer was Chief Operating Officer at Souper Salad, Inc. from 2010 to 2012 and Chief Brand Officer at Souper Salad, Inc. from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Meisenheimer was Vice President, Brand Management at Pizza Inn, Inc. from 2005 to 2008.

Ms. Maria Chang Mayer has been appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary of the Company, effective on November 15, 2017. Ms. Mayer brings with her almost 25 years of experience, including multi-jurisdictional projects, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and strategic and financial transactions. Most recently, Maria served as general counsel of AMG and Widex USA, U.S. subsidiaries of Widex A/S, one of the world's largest hearing aid manufacturers. There she provided legal counsel to Widex's US operations which include hundreds of retail hearing aid clinics nationwide and wholesale operations based in New York. Prior to that, she served as Senior Corporate Counsel for Carlton Fields, a leading provider of legal and consultative services based in Florida. Before joining Carlton Fields, Maria served in various roles at several law firms, including Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Popham Haik Schnobrich & Kaufman, and Stuzin & Camner. Ms. Mayer earned her law degree from the University of Florida, College of Law where she graduated with Honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of Florida

Mr. Anthony Dinkins serves as Senior Vice President - Human Resources of the Company. Mr. Dinkins is a highly accomplished human resources professional with more than 25 years of experience working at leading organizations across multiple industries. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) where he was responsible for all aspects of Human Resources, Payroll, and Health & Safety for 7,500 employees in 26 countries. Prior to joining C&W, he held a number of senior human resources positions for well-known companies such as Carnival Corporation, Citrix Systems and Avoya and Lucent Technologies. Mr. Dinkins earned his MBA from Columbia University and graduated with a bachelor of science in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.

Mr. Ryan Nowlin is Chief Information Officer of the Company. Mr. Nowlin, who joined Fiesta as director of IT systems in 2012 and was named senior director of IT in 2014, is responsible for the company's entire IT structure. Key accomplishments during his tenure include redesigning Pollo Tropical's website with online ordering capabilities, restructuring the IT department, improving Help Desk functions, improving on-site repair, and beginning the migration of the company's enterprise systems and network to the cloud. Prior to Fiesta, Nowlin served as vice president – IT and business process for Corner Bakery Cafe. Previously, he spent 13 years in IT consulting with a focus on infrastructure, information security and technology strategy. He holds an MBA from SMU Cox School of Business.

Mr. Joseph W. Brink is Vice President- Chief Procurement Officer of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Joseph W. Brink has been Vice President, Supply Chain Management of Fiesta Restaurant Group since 2011 and was appointed Chief Procurement Officer in October 2016. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Brink served as Vice President of Supply Chain Management of Souper Salad, Inc. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Brink served as Senior Director of Purchasing of Pizza Inn, Inc.

Mr. Barry J. Alperin is Independent Director of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., with effect from July 5, 2012. Mr. Alperin, who is retired, served as Vice Chairman of Hasbro, Inc. (“Hasbro”) from 1990 through 1995, as Co-Chief Operating Officer of Hasbro from 1989 through 1990 and as Senior Vice President or Executive Vice President of Hasbro from 1985 through 1989. He was a director of Hasbro from 1985 through 1996. Prior to joining Hasbro, Mr. Alperin practiced law in New York City for 20 years, dealing with corporate, public and private financial transactions, corporate mergers and acquisitions, compensation issues and securities law matters. Mr. Alperin currently serves as a director of Henry Schein, Inc. (and is Chairman of its Compensation Committee and a member of its Audit Committee and its Nominating and Governance Committee) and is a director of two privately held corporations, K’NEX Industries, Inc., a toy manufacturer, and Weeks Marine, Inc., a marine construction company. In November 2013, Mr. Alperin became a director of Jefferies Group LLC and serves on its Audit, Compensation, and Governance Committees. During the past five years, Mr. Alperin served on the board of directors of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (and was Chairman of its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a member of its Audit Committee) and K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P. He serves as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee of The Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, President Emeritus and a Life Trustee of The Jewish Museum in New York City and is a past President of the New York Chapter of the American Jewish Committee where he also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the national organization. Mr. Alperin also formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College, was President of the Board of the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center in New York City, was a trustee of the Hasbro Children’s Foundation, was President of the Toy Industry Association

Mr. Nicholas Daraviras serves as an Independent Director of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., since April 2011. Mr. Daraviras has been a Managing Director of Leucadia since 2014. Mr. Daraviras has served as Vice President, Acquisitions of Landcadia Holdings, Inc. since May 2016. From 1996 through 2014, Mr. Daraviras was employed with Jefferies Capital Partners or its predecessors (of which Mr. Friedman is President and a director). He also served on the boards of Edgen Group Inc., a global distributor of specialty steel products, or its predecessors from February 2005 until 2013, and Carrols Restaurant Group from 2009 until 2013. Mr. Daraviras served on the Compensation Committee of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. as well as the Compensation, Corporate Governance, and Nominating Committees of Edgen Group Inc. He also serves on several boards of directors of private portfolio companies of Jefferies Capital Partners and Leucadia.

Mr. Stephen P. Elker is Independent Director of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., since May 7, 2012. Until 2009, Mr. Elker spent over 36 years with KPMG LLP, the U.S. member firm of KPMG International, beginning in its Washington D.C. office, and then with offices in Rochester, New York and Orlando, Florida. In 1999, Mr. Elker was appointed as managing partner of the Orlando office and served as partner in charge of the Florida business tax practice from 2001 to 2009. Mr. Elker also served as a member of the Nominating Committee and Strategy Committee of KPMG. During his career with KPMG, Mr. Elker led engagements for several hospitality and retail clients including large, multi-unit restaurant companies. Mr. Elker is a certified public accountant and currently serves as an independent director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of CNL Growth Properties, Inc., a public, non-traded real estate investment trust. Mr. Elker also serves on the board of directors of other privately held companies in the finance and payments industries.

Mr. Brian P. Friedman is Independent Director of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., since April 2011. Mr. Friedman has been the President and a director of Leucadia National Corporation (“Leucadia”) since March 1, 2013, a director and executive officer of Jefferies Group LLC since July 2005, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Jefferies LLC since 2002, and President of Jefferies Capital Partners LLC (“Jefferies Capital Partners”) and its predecessors since 1997. Mr. Friedman was previously employed by Furman Selz LLC and its successors, including serving as Head of Investment Banking and a member of its Management and Operating Committees. Prior to his 17 years with Furman Selz and its successors, Mr. Friedman was an attorney with the law firm of Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. Mr. Friedman serves on boards of directors/managers of Leucadia’s and Jefferies Capital Partners’ private subsidiaries and investee companies. Mr. Friedman also serves or has served on the board of the following public companies: HomeFed Corporation (majority-owned by Leucadia) from April 2014 to present; and Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. from July, 2009 to May, 2012.

Mr. Nicholas P. Shepherd is a Independent Director of the company. He is a highly-regarded business leader with over 25 years of extensive restaurant and retail experience at leading organizations. Most recently, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of TGI Friday’s, Inc., a position he held from 2009 to 2015. Prior to joining TGI Friday's, Inc., Mr. Shepherd served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Sagittarius Brands, Inc. in 2008, a private restaurant holding company which owned and operated the Del Taco and Captain D’s restaurant brands. From 1995 to 2007, he held several leadership positions at Blockbuster, Inc., including President of Blockbuster North America and later, Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Shepherd earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and hospitality from Sheffield Hallamshire University and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., a premier net lease real-estate investment trust.

Mr. Jack A. Smith is Director of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. Mr. Smith also served as a director of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. and as Chairman of its Audit Committee from 2006 until 2012. Mr. Smith is President of SMAT, Incorporated, a consulting company specializing in consumer services. Mr. Smith founded The Sports Authority, Inc., a national sporting goods chain, in 1987 where he served as Chief Executive Officer until September 1998 and as Chairman until 1999. From 1982 until 1987, Mr. Smith served as Chief Operating Officer of Herman’s Sporting Goods. Prior to Herman’s, Mr. Smith served in executive management positions with other major retailers including Sears & Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, Jefferson Stores and Diana Shops. Mr. Smith currently serves as a non-executive director of Omagine, Inc., a hospitality and tourism company with significant property management and real estate development operations. Mr. Smith previously served on the board of directors of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and was the Chairman of its Audit Committee from 1995 through 2009.

Mr. Paul E. Twohig is Director of the company. . Mr. Twohig is a global retail and food service senior executive with demonstrated success leading some of the world’s most prominent brands. From 2009 until 2017, Mr. Twohig served as President of Dunkin Donuts, U.S. and Canada. He was a member of the senior executive team that completed Dunkin Donuts’ initial public offering in 2011. Previously, Mr. Twohig held several senior executive roles with Starbucks Corporation, including Vice President and General Manager, U.K., and Senior Vice President, Eastern Division. Additionally, Mr. Twohig served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Panera Bread Company. His governance experience includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Dentistry for Children from 2011 to 2014, and for Solantic Urgent Care, Inc. from 2007 to 2011.

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